Electrical companies donate funds and services to recovery efforts

Several companies in the electrical industry have pledged financial support or set up relief programs to assist in rescue and recovery efforts, as well as provide for the families of victims. GE, Plainville, Conn., has pledged $10 million to a fund that will assist the families of the firefighters, police officers and emergency rescue personnel who perished while responding to the attack on the World

Several companies in the electrical industry have pledged financial support or set up relief programs to assist in rescue and recovery efforts, as well as provide for the families of victims.

GE, Plainville, Conn., has pledged $10 million to a fund that will assist the families of the firefighters, police officers and emergency rescue personnel who perished while responding to the attack on the World Trade Center.

The parent company of Siemens Energy and Automation, Alpharetta, Ga., has donated $2 million to immediately support emergency assistance agencies in New York and Washington. This donation was made through the “Siemens Caring Hands Foundation.”

In addition, Siemens employees around the world are invited to make personal contributions to the relief effort through the Siemens Caring Hands Foundation. Siemens will match, dollar-for-dollar, every contribution made by its employees worldwide. The money from the Siemens Caring Hands Foundation will be given to “The September 11th Fund,” a nonprofit organization set up to ensure that financial resources are deployed effectively to emergency assistance and health and human services agencies in New York and Washington. This organization is jointly administered by The United Way and The New York Community Trust.

Fluke Networks Inc., Everett, Wash., part of the Danaher family of companies, announced that Fluke Networks has initiated an Emergency Relief Program aimed at helping restore communications service to companies and organizations affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

“Network communications, whether it is e-mail or some other form of data communications, is the backbone of any organization,” said Chris Odell, president of Fluke Networks. “We of course realize that many organizations have suffered substantial network service disruption owing to the tragic events of this past week.

“To assist in reestablishing damaged network infrastructure, Fluke Networks will provide loaner equipment, technical expertise, expedited delivery and on-site assistance until service is restored to those affected networks. It's our small way of helping out in a time of great need.”

W.W. Grainger, Chicago, is in the process of donating $1 million in cash and emergency supplies to aid rescue and recovery teams in New York. Through this donation, the company is providing an assortment of products, including hard hats, steel-toed boots, respirator masks, safety glasses and gloves.

Grainger also is positioned to get products into the right hands, quickly. The company is pulling emergency supplies from more than 20 branches located within 100 miles of Ground Zero.

In addition to this donation, Grainger Branch 551, located on Varick St. (just two miles from Ground Zero) will remain open 24 hours a day indefinitely to provide emergency supplies to response teams. The company shipped more than 50 trailers of products to the affected areas in both New York and Washington, D.C., to meet the demands created by the sustained rescue efforts.

ABB Inc., Norwalk, Conn., the U.S. arm of global technology company ABB, has pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, the company plans to match, $2 to $1, any additional employee contributions made to the fund.

“We were very fortunate that no ABB employees were directly injured in the horrible attacks,” said Donald Aiken, president of ABB Inc. “But that makes it all the more important that we do what we can to help rebuild in the aftermath of this tragedy.”

Graybar Electric Co. Inc., St. Louis, is donating money to several agencies: The American Red Cross Relief Fund, The Sept. 11th Fund, The Salvation Army's Pentagon Disaster Fund and The Widows' and Children's Funds of both the New York Police and Fire Departments.

Business technology provider Prophet 21, Yardley, Pa., has made an immediate $5,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.